Here's When the Zika Virus Will Hit Your Area—and Just How Bad It Will Get

As if mosquitoes weren’t annoying enough

PHOTOGRAPH BY SHUTTERSTOCK

Spring has officially sprung (at least, according to the calendar), which means summer is soooo close. Woot!

Well, sorta. Normally, the climbing temps and sunny skies would have us grabbing tank tops and sunblock, but this year, we’ll also be reaching for mosquito repellent. Lots and lots of mosquito repellent.

New research from the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) predicts that conditions will be ripe for outbreaks of the Zika virus across much of the United States this summer. The virus, carried by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, first spread across tropical areas in Latin America and the Caribbean. But once rising temps and humidity set in over the summer, experts expect to see the virus pop up along the East Coast, as far north as New York City, and throughout the South, stretching all the way to Phoenix and Los Angeles.

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IMAGE COURTESY OF NATIONAL CENTER FOR ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH

Researchers modeled a map based on travel patterns of the mosquito to estimate which areas of the country are most at-risk for an outbreak. The shaded portions on the map represent places where the Aedes aegypti mosquitos have been spotted, and the size and color of the dots indicate how prevalent they’ll be in major population centers at the height of summer weather in July. Cities with the highest potential for outbreak include major travel hubs like Miami, Houston, and Orlando.

One upside? Because most Americans live and work in air-conditioned buildings, the virus isn’t likely to spread as quickly as it did in Latin American and the Caribbean, says NCAR researcher Andrew Monaghan. Also, keep in mind: If you’re not pregnant and happen to get Zika, no need to panic. For most healthy people, the symptoms are generally pretty mild (think flu-like fever, rash,joint pain). Read up on our Zika virus primer, spray on insect repellent with DEET, and be on your merry way.